BY ROCKY LOCKWOOD

Their bats have been swung by some of the biggest names in the game; Miguel Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, Miguel Tejada, Vladimir Guerrero, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Gonzalez, Bobby Abreu, and others and yet they are still viewed as one of the little guys. Arizona based Zinger Bats (Twitter, Instagram) seems intent on challenging that notion.

A recent trip to their factory in Chandler, and a meeting with Co-owner Scott Hanish, revealed a company solidly committed to producing a quality product for hitters, while aggressively focused on gaining a much stronger foothold within the industry. Scott, a right-handed pitcher, who pitched professionally in three different decades, purchased the company in 2012 after a series of events led to the sale and relocation of operations to Canada from Utah. Chad Harding, who runs the shop, and serves as Lead Bat Engineer, works closely with Zinger’s MLB sales rep Lino Garcia, and MiLB sales rep Jake Hanen, both of who actually play a part in production to assure that their players are getting bats that exactly match their orders.

Looks like they’ve got a good sense of humor, too, based on this slump-buster BP bat for Delino DeShields, Jr.:

The current factory is strikingly similar to most other small bat companies, but planning is underway for a new Scottsdale operation, complete with an enlarged manufacturing area, training spaces, batting cages, and an enhanced retail setting.

On opening day Salvador Perez went 4 for 4 with a pair doubles, and Victor Martinez went deep in the Tigers 4-3 win, all with Zinger Bats, which had been delivered to them in Zinger’s new wheeled bat cases, which will be featured on their newly updated webpage later this month.

The cases, which are fully waterproof, are scheduled to retail for about $400.